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Cork O'Connor #3
Purgatory Ridge
Winner of the prestigious Loft-McKnight Fiction Award and the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, William Kent Krueger has established himself as a startlingly original voice in thriller fiction. With Purgatory Ridge he cements his standing as a suspense writer of the highest caliber.
Not far from the small town of Aurora (population 3,752) lies an ancient two-hundred-acre expanse of great white pines, sacred to the Anishinaabe and known to them as Minishoomisag (Our Grandfathers).
Wealthy industrialist Karl Lindstrom does not have a reputation as a sensitive environmentalist, and some members of the Anishinaabe tribe are concerned about the proximity of the trees to his lumber mill. So when an explosion at the mill results in the death of a night watchman, it's obvious whom suspicion will fall upon.
Cork O'Connor, in the throes of straightening out his life and repairing his marriage, is asked by his successor as sheriff to help with the investigation. His sense of community obliges him to accept, but Cork has distinctly mixed feelings about the case. For one thing, he is part Anishinaabe himself. For another, his lawyer wife, Jo, represents the tribe.
Meanwhile, in a secluded house that overlooks the lakeside home of the Lindstrom family, a reclusive shipwreck survivor and his sidekick also seem to be harboring some resentment of their own against the industrialist. And it soon becomes clear to Cork that harmony, both at home and in the town, will be on the back burner for some time.
William Kent Krueger's precise and atmospheric prose, combined with his keen eye for the telling details of small-town life and his vivid sense of the land and seascapes of northern Minnesota, will impress and delight both his old fans and those discovering him for the first time.
Not far from the small town of Aurora (population 3,752) lies an ancient two-hundred-acre expanse of great white pines, sacred to the Anishinaabe and known to them as Minishoomisag (Our Grandfathers).
Wealthy industrialist Karl Lindstrom does not have a reputation as a sensitive environmentalist, and some members of the Anishinaabe tribe are concerned about the proximity of the trees to his lumber mill. So when an explosion at the mill results in the death of a night watchman, it's obvious whom suspicion will fall upon.
Cork O'Connor, in the throes of straightening out his life and repairing his marriage, is asked by his successor as sheriff to help with the investigation. His sense of community obliges him to accept, but Cork has distinctly mixed feelings about the case. For one thing, he is part Anishinaabe himself. For another, his lawyer wife, Jo, represents the tribe.
Meanwhile, in a secluded house that overlooks the lakeside home of the Lindstrom family, a reclusive shipwreck survivor and his sidekick also seem to be harboring some resentment of their own against the industrialist. And it soon becomes clear to Cork that harmony, both at home and in the town, will be on the back burner for some time.
William Kent Krueger's precise and atmospheric prose, combined with his keen eye for the telling details of small-town life and his vivid sense of the land and seascapes of northern Minnesota, will impress and delight both his old fans and those discovering him for the first time.
452 pages, ebook
First published February 27, 2001
2843 people are currently reading
6546 people want to read
About the author
William Kent Krueger
82 books16.5k followersRaised in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, William Kent Krueger briefly attended Stanford University—before being kicked out for radical activities. After that, he logged timber, worked construction, tried his hand at freelance journalism, and eventually ended up researching child development at the University of Minnesota. He currently makes his living as a full-time author. He’s been married for over 40 years to a marvelous woman who is an attorney. He makes his home in St. Paul, a city he dearly loves.
Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage—part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. His last five novels were all New York Times bestsellers.
"Ordinary Grace," his stand-alone novel published in 2013, received the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America in recognition for the best novel published in that year. "Windigo Island," number fourteen in his Cork O’Connor series, was released in August 2014.
Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage—part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. His last five novels were all New York Times bestsellers.
"Ordinary Grace," his stand-alone novel published in 2013, received the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America in recognition for the best novel published in that year. "Windigo Island," number fourteen in his Cork O’Connor series, was released in August 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,771 reviews
May 27, 2021
Purgatory Ridge (Cork O'Connor #3) by William Kent Krueger (Author), David Chandler (Narrator)
There is a battle brewing for the ancient two-hundred-acre expanse of great white pines, near the town of Aurora. The Anishinaabe call these great white pines Minishoomisag, meaning Our Grandfathers and these trees are sacred to them. Lumbermill owner, Karl Lindstrom, wants these trees and the surrounding area for his logging operation while ecological activists from the other side of the country want no trees to be touched and are bringing their fight to the area.
On the home front, Cork and his wife are together again, although their marriage still suffers from all that has gone before. When the sheriff asks for Corks assistance in finding who was behind the lumberyard explosion that killed the night watchman, Cork's acceptance puts him at odds with his wife and the Anishinaabe. It doesn't help matters that there are rumors afloat that many townsfolks want Cork to run for sheriff again.
Then the ante is upped when Cork's family is threatened. It's hard to tell where the danger is coming from because there are so many players in this story. There is a shipwreck survivor who holds a long time grudge against the Lindstrom family, there are the eco activists that possibly put nature above the life of humans, and there are members of the Anishinaabe who want to put an end to the threat of their sacred trees being destroyed by the greed of the white man. At the same time, even those who want to save the sacred trees are against the people who want to stop all trees cutting because so many of them need their lumber jobs to survive.
Not so many dead bodies this time but the tension is high. It was hard to figure out who caused the explosion because so many people have means and motive. Throughout the story, overshadowing the fight of men against men, are raging forest fires and threats of more fires to come.
There is a battle brewing for the ancient two-hundred-acre expanse of great white pines, near the town of Aurora. The Anishinaabe call these great white pines Minishoomisag, meaning Our Grandfathers and these trees are sacred to them. Lumbermill owner, Karl Lindstrom, wants these trees and the surrounding area for his logging operation while ecological activists from the other side of the country want no trees to be touched and are bringing their fight to the area.
On the home front, Cork and his wife are together again, although their marriage still suffers from all that has gone before. When the sheriff asks for Corks assistance in finding who was behind the lumberyard explosion that killed the night watchman, Cork's acceptance puts him at odds with his wife and the Anishinaabe. It doesn't help matters that there are rumors afloat that many townsfolks want Cork to run for sheriff again.
Then the ante is upped when Cork's family is threatened. It's hard to tell where the danger is coming from because there are so many players in this story. There is a shipwreck survivor who holds a long time grudge against the Lindstrom family, there are the eco activists that possibly put nature above the life of humans, and there are members of the Anishinaabe who want to put an end to the threat of their sacred trees being destroyed by the greed of the white man. At the same time, even those who want to save the sacred trees are against the people who want to stop all trees cutting because so many of them need their lumber jobs to survive.
Not so many dead bodies this time but the tension is high. It was hard to figure out who caused the explosion because so many people have means and motive. Throughout the story, overshadowing the fight of men against men, are raging forest fires and threats of more fires to come.
March 5, 2017
The third book in this excellent series and every bit as good as the first two. Again we are treated to lots of lovely information about the local Native Indians and their customs and beliefs. There is also lots and lots of beautiful description of the local area.
Cork O'Connor is one of those book characters who quickly becomes special to the reader. He is honest, likable and trust worthy. He tends to always do the right thing and he is certainly smarter than the average bad guy. In this book though he has everything to fight for and no clues to help him at all. Of course he eventually wins (he has to since there are a whole heap more books in the series)but it is really by default. The twist at the end surprised me as much as him although I think I clicked a bit before he did!
Although each of these books does stand alone from the point of view of story, they really need to be read in order to appreciate the characters. Jo for example is a work in progress and I cannot make up my mind whether I like her or not. Each book leaves me with a different opinion. I look forward to seeing more of her and Cork in the next book.
Cork O'Connor is one of those book characters who quickly becomes special to the reader. He is honest, likable and trust worthy. He tends to always do the right thing and he is certainly smarter than the average bad guy. In this book though he has everything to fight for and no clues to help him at all. Of course he eventually wins (he has to since there are a whole heap more books in the series)but it is really by default. The twist at the end surprised me as much as him although I think I clicked a bit before he did!
Although each of these books does stand alone from the point of view of story, they really need to be read in order to appreciate the characters. Jo for example is a work in progress and I cannot make up my mind whether I like her or not. Each book leaves me with a different opinion. I look forward to seeing more of her and Cork in the next book.
March 19, 2017
There's tension brewing between the owner of the town's lumber mill and the local Anishinabee tribe. He wants to clear some great white pines in Our Grandfathers, sacred land for the tribe. When outside ecological activists get involved and an explosion at the mill kills a tribal member, those tensions reach new heights. Concurrently, a shipwreck survivor and his friend are planning to wreak more havoc in the midst of this mayhem.
This was an intriguing story primarily because there were several stories in play that appeared initially to be disconnected but were cleverly intersected at some point. I must admit that I was fairly clueless about most of it but nailed at least one of them. Again, Krueger most effectively makes the environment a critical part of the story in a whole new way. It meanders a bit but has an excruciatingly suspenseful ending that begins around the 75% mark. I couldn't stop listening and the narrator made it even more exciting.
Still loving this series. 4.5 stars
This was an intriguing story primarily because there were several stories in play that appeared initially to be disconnected but were cleverly intersected at some point. I must admit that I was fairly clueless about most of it but nailed at least one of them. Again, Krueger most effectively makes the environment a critical part of the story in a whole new way. It meanders a bit but has an excruciatingly suspenseful ending that begins around the 75% mark. I couldn't stop listening and the narrator made it even more exciting.
Still loving this series. 4.5 stars
April 20, 2024
William Kent Krueger, in less than two years, has become one of my favorite authors. As they say, if he wrote the phone book (for folks who remember those), I’d sign up to read it… on my kindle. 😎
Vengeance is best served cold (hey, I’ve got a plethora of cliches on my mind today), then it’ll be when hell freezes over if Cork O’Connor gets involved.
And involved he is in this mystery featuring two lakes, several victims and even more shady characters. It’ll take Cork and Jo, along with some help from his friends to piece this one together.
In addition to the plotting, the place is itself a character in this one as much as any two-legged character. Amazing scenery and scene setting. Mr Krueger knocks another one out of the park!!
(Reviewed 9/16/23)
Vengeance is best served cold (hey, I’ve got a plethora of cliches on my mind today), then it’ll be when hell freezes over if Cork O’Connor gets involved.
And involved he is in this mystery featuring two lakes, several victims and even more shady characters. It’ll take Cork and Jo, along with some help from his friends to piece this one together.
In addition to the plotting, the place is itself a character in this one as much as any two-legged character. Amazing scenery and scene setting. Mr Krueger knocks another one out of the park!!
(Reviewed 9/16/23)
January 21, 2026
A gripping storyline with stellar narration!
🪵🪚🪵🪚
The stakes are high in Aurora when an explosion at a lumber mill leaves a man dead. It becomes evident that this was no accident, but who is at fault and why.
🌲🌲🌲🌲
A 200-acre stand of great white pines known as "Our Grandfathers" to the local Anishinaabe tribe in danger of being cut. Both environmentalists and the tribe are seeking to protect the land and trees, but how far are they willing to go?
🚢🚢🚢🚢
There's also a sole survivor of a shipwreck whose broken heart keeps him unsettled. Needled by an acquaintance he feels pressure to find the truth about the wreck prove that was no accident and exploit the situation for a payout.
💥💥💥💥
Each of these threads tangles with the others to create a combustible high stakes plot.
🔑🔑🔑🔑
Meanwhile Cork is trying to heal his family from many close calls. There's still some sensitivity for he and his wife Jo and their three children despite the reconciliation. It takes time to heal and I'm glad the author acknowledged that. The suspense is through the roof this time around. Truth is accessible in the writing whether you are considering characters, setting, atmosphere or clues and there's something refreshing about that.
🚤🚤🚤🚤
🪵🪚🪵🪚
The stakes are high in Aurora when an explosion at a lumber mill leaves a man dead. It becomes evident that this was no accident, but who is at fault and why.
🌲🌲🌲🌲
A 200-acre stand of great white pines known as "Our Grandfathers" to the local Anishinaabe tribe in danger of being cut. Both environmentalists and the tribe are seeking to protect the land and trees, but how far are they willing to go?
🚢🚢🚢🚢
There's also a sole survivor of a shipwreck whose broken heart keeps him unsettled. Needled by an acquaintance he feels pressure to find the truth about the wreck prove that was no accident and exploit the situation for a payout.
💥💥💥💥
Each of these threads tangles with the others to create a combustible high stakes plot.
🔑🔑🔑🔑
Meanwhile Cork is trying to heal his family from many close calls. There's still some sensitivity for he and his wife Jo and their three children despite the reconciliation. It takes time to heal and I'm glad the author acknowledged that. The suspense is through the roof this time around. Truth is accessible in the writing whether you are considering characters, setting, atmosphere or clues and there's something refreshing about that.
🚤🚤🚤🚤
June 18, 2016
5 of 5 stars
This is another outstanding read by the author who is fast becoming my all-time favorite. William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series is nothing short of superb. True, part of the appeal to this Minnesotan reader may be the fact that the setting is northern Minnesota, but this is definitely not the only reason. Mr. Krueger is a master of atmospheric prose. I always feel pulled into the scene, appreciating it with all my senses. His characters are extremely well-developed, and the lives of the recurring players progress as the series moves along. The main protagonist, Cork O’Connor is a former sheriff of small town Aurora, Minnesota; the reader learns more about what makes him tick with each book. He is certainly not flawless, but is immensely likeable. I often have trouble with books where the main character is not terribly appealing. O’Connor is part native American and lives near a reservation. Because of this, I have learned a great deal about the Ojibwe (Chippewa) Anishinaabeg people and their culture, a bonus sidelight that infuses all the O’Connor books. Another strong point of Mr. Krueger’s writing is that his stories are consistently filled with twists, turns and surprises galore. I have yet to figure out the bad guy in the books I have read thus far.
Purgatory Ridge is even better than Boundary Waters, which I recently gave 5 stars. The story is 2-pronged and I was immersed in how the 2 angles were going to merge. The setup moved along nicely. The last 150 pages literally demanded no interruptions. My usual Saturday afternoon routine was sacrificed without a thought as I raced to the end (I missed watching two World Series games because of this book, and that’s saying a lot). As Cork faced what looked like unsurmontable odds with very few pages remaining, I actually started to cry. These tears came even though I knew Cork would somehow survive; afterall, there are 11 more books to this series!! This just illustrates how this book totally commanded my attention and involved me emotionally.
This book gets 5 big stars. I recommend it to every mystery/thriller fan looking for a terrific read. Though it can be read as a stand-alone novel, I do advise starting with Iron Lake, book 1 of the set, just so one can fully enjoy the outstanding character-development feature of this book series.
This is another outstanding read by the author who is fast becoming my all-time favorite. William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series is nothing short of superb. True, part of the appeal to this Minnesotan reader may be the fact that the setting is northern Minnesota, but this is definitely not the only reason. Mr. Krueger is a master of atmospheric prose. I always feel pulled into the scene, appreciating it with all my senses. His characters are extremely well-developed, and the lives of the recurring players progress as the series moves along. The main protagonist, Cork O’Connor is a former sheriff of small town Aurora, Minnesota; the reader learns more about what makes him tick with each book. He is certainly not flawless, but is immensely likeable. I often have trouble with books where the main character is not terribly appealing. O’Connor is part native American and lives near a reservation. Because of this, I have learned a great deal about the Ojibwe (Chippewa) Anishinaabeg people and their culture, a bonus sidelight that infuses all the O’Connor books. Another strong point of Mr. Krueger’s writing is that his stories are consistently filled with twists, turns and surprises galore. I have yet to figure out the bad guy in the books I have read thus far.
Purgatory Ridge is even better than Boundary Waters, which I recently gave 5 stars. The story is 2-pronged and I was immersed in how the 2 angles were going to merge. The setup moved along nicely. The last 150 pages literally demanded no interruptions. My usual Saturday afternoon routine was sacrificed without a thought as I raced to the end (I missed watching two World Series games because of this book, and that’s saying a lot). As Cork faced what looked like unsurmontable odds with very few pages remaining, I actually started to cry. These tears came even though I knew Cork would somehow survive; afterall, there are 11 more books to this series!! This just illustrates how this book totally commanded my attention and involved me emotionally.
This book gets 5 big stars. I recommend it to every mystery/thriller fan looking for a terrific read. Though it can be read as a stand-alone novel, I do advise starting with Iron Lake, book 1 of the set, just so one can fully enjoy the outstanding character-development feature of this book series.
June 3, 2024
4/4.5 stars! Another great addition to the series!
Purgatory Ridge the 3rd book in the Cork O'Connor series has an intense ending and a plot twist that I didn't see coming.
I’ve been impressed with this series. The writing, pacing and characters are excellent.
Looking forward to the next book!
Purgatory Ridge the 3rd book in the Cork O'Connor series has an intense ending and a plot twist that I didn't see coming.
I’ve been impressed with this series. The writing, pacing and characters are excellent.
Looking forward to the next book!
March 24, 2017
This was another great addition to the series. It was my bedtime when I hit those last 75-100 pages...which only meant that I had to stay up late to finish it. As with the previous books the author starts out slowly, like a Sunday afternoon pleasure ride, only to increase the speed so subtly you almost don't notice it...until you find yourself racing towards the end, holding on for dear life. I'm growing quite attached to Cork O'Connor, his family, and Aurora, Minnesota so I'm looking forward to more of this series.
November 15, 2019
It wasn't bad but it was like many other stories I've read. It took me longer than usual to get through it.
October 16, 2020
[7/10]
Conscience was a devil that plagued the individual. Collectively, a people squashed it as easily as stepping on a daisy.
Or so it appeared to Corcoran O’Connor on that summer morning when smoke hazed the sky and Tamarack County seemed poised for war over the destruction of one of the last good stands of old-growth white pine left in the North Woods.
I’m back in Tamarack County, following the exploits of former Sheriff Cork O’Connor, reading book three in the series after reading book four due to my own damn flimsy memory. Still, reading the novels in chronological order is optional, since each one presents a more or less completed criminal investigation while it fleshes out the personality of the lead character, of his family and friends and, in general, of the rural community of north Minnesota.
I have decided to continue with the series after an excellent first episode mostly for the setting and for the prose of William Kent Krueger and not for the crime thriller format, which in the end, is not all that special, in particular with this third episode that feels more than a little forced, contrived.
Math and science could be applied in concrete ways. Literature, if it didn’t enlighten, at least entertained. But history? History was simply a study in futility. Because people never learned. Century after century, they committed the same atrocities against one another or against the earth, and the only thing that changed was the magnitude of the slaughter.
The catalyst of this new conflict in the logging town of Aurora is not much different than the one from the first novel in the series. There, the fishing rights on Iron Lake led to bloody conflict between the Anishinaabe people and the local industry leaders. Now, in the name of progress, one of those local industrialists who recently returned home has won a government contract to cut in a preserved national forest. Somebody blows up equipment at one of his camps and immediately the Anishinaabe, who consider the grove of ancient pine trees sacred, are blamed. Cork is asked to work as a private investigator, to clear up the mess as a freelance agent. A parallel plot follows the personal vendetta of the sole survivor from the sinking of a coal freighter during a winter storm on the Great Lakes. Readers familiar with the genre might rightfully suspect that the two incidents are related, but the author does a pretty good job at muddying the waters
As I have come to expect from a Krueger novel, the pacing is good, the characters are engaging, the tension is gradually ratcheted up to an explosive finale. I did have some problems with the “both sides are evil” argument when discussing nature preservation issues, and with a less than subtle religious tone. But it appears that Mr. Krueger considers it important to bear witness to his faith in each of his stories, and the more I read from him, the more evident it appears that miracles and faith in them form a huge part of his discourse. Such a miracle (or three) are also part of the current episode.
The title itself is actually very well chosen, with multiple interpretations both for LaPere the sailor who tries to atone for his failure to save his brother from drowning, and for Cork, who is in a personal purgatory after failing both his community and his family in the first book of the series. The longer I read about him, the more he begins to resemble a Saviour avatar for the town
As a bonus for rockhounds, this Purgatory Ridge is an actual geological feature on the Great Lakes, a place that seems worth a visit.
Will I continue reading these books? Probably, yes. Again, not so much for the crime part or for the religious angle, but for the experience of living so close to nature, a thing that mr. Krueger is really good at conveying.
Aurora, Minnesota, deep in the great North Woods, riding the jagged edge of the Iron Range, had not yet wakened. This was Cork’s favorite time of the day. Although he couldn’t actually see it, he could picture the whole town perfectly. Sunlight dripping down the houses on Gooseberry Lane like butter melting down pancakes. The streets empty and clean. The surface of Iron Lake on such a still morning looking solid as polished steel.
God, he loved this place.
Conscience was a devil that plagued the individual. Collectively, a people squashed it as easily as stepping on a daisy.
Or so it appeared to Corcoran O’Connor on that summer morning when smoke hazed the sky and Tamarack County seemed poised for war over the destruction of one of the last good stands of old-growth white pine left in the North Woods.
I’m back in Tamarack County, following the exploits of former Sheriff Cork O’Connor, reading book three in the series after reading book four due to my own damn flimsy memory. Still, reading the novels in chronological order is optional, since each one presents a more or less completed criminal investigation while it fleshes out the personality of the lead character, of his family and friends and, in general, of the rural community of north Minnesota.
I have decided to continue with the series after an excellent first episode mostly for the setting and for the prose of William Kent Krueger and not for the crime thriller format, which in the end, is not all that special, in particular with this third episode that feels more than a little forced, contrived.
Math and science could be applied in concrete ways. Literature, if it didn’t enlighten, at least entertained. But history? History was simply a study in futility. Because people never learned. Century after century, they committed the same atrocities against one another or against the earth, and the only thing that changed was the magnitude of the slaughter.
The catalyst of this new conflict in the logging town of Aurora is not much different than the one from the first novel in the series. There, the fishing rights on Iron Lake led to bloody conflict between the Anishinaabe people and the local industry leaders. Now, in the name of progress, one of those local industrialists who recently returned home has won a government contract to cut in a preserved national forest. Somebody blows up equipment at one of his camps and immediately the Anishinaabe, who consider the grove of ancient pine trees sacred, are blamed. Cork is asked to work as a private investigator, to clear up the mess as a freelance agent. A parallel plot follows the personal vendetta of the sole survivor from the sinking of a coal freighter during a winter storm on the Great Lakes. Readers familiar with the genre might rightfully suspect that the two incidents are related, but the author does a pretty good job at muddying the waters
As I have come to expect from a Krueger novel, the pacing is good, the characters are engaging, the tension is gradually ratcheted up to an explosive finale. I did have some problems with the “both sides are evil” argument when discussing nature preservation issues, and with a less than subtle religious tone. But it appears that Mr. Krueger considers it important to bear witness to his faith in each of his stories, and the more I read from him, the more evident it appears that miracles and faith in them form a huge part of his discourse. Such a miracle (or three) are also part of the current episode.
The title itself is actually very well chosen, with multiple interpretations both for LaPere the sailor who tries to atone for his failure to save his brother from drowning, and for Cork, who is in a personal purgatory after failing both his community and his family in the first book of the series. The longer I read about him, the more he begins to resemble a Saviour avatar for the town
As a bonus for rockhounds, this Purgatory Ridge is an actual geological feature on the Great Lakes, a place that seems worth a visit.
Will I continue reading these books? Probably, yes. Again, not so much for the crime part or for the religious angle, but for the experience of living so close to nature, a thing that mr. Krueger is really good at conveying.
Aurora, Minnesota, deep in the great North Woods, riding the jagged edge of the Iron Range, had not yet wakened. This was Cork’s favorite time of the day. Although he couldn’t actually see it, he could picture the whole town perfectly. Sunlight dripping down the houses on Gooseberry Lane like butter melting down pancakes. The streets empty and clean. The surface of Iron Lake on such a still morning looking solid as polished steel.
God, he loved this place.
December 26, 2017
Really enjoyable series. Cork and his family always seem central but moreso in this one. I love the setting and how the Native American culture rubs along and doesn’t with the whites of the community. The case itself was an interesting one.
December 11, 2025
Over the last two years, I have read all of the books in Craig Johnson’s Longmire mystery series and all of the Joe Pickett and Cassie Dewell series books by C.J. Box. I loved all of them and enjoyed the reading experience tremendously. Now, my search for the next great mystery series to sink my teeth into has led me to William Kent Kreuger’s Cork O’Conner series.
“Purgatory Ridge” is the third Cork O’Conner novel and continues the same high level of quality delivered in the first two. Cork lives in the small northern town of Aurora, Minnesota where he grew up. Cork is part Irish and part Anishinaabe Indian. He was previously a cop working the rough South Side of Chicago, but moved back home to Aurora with his wife, Jo, to raise a family in a small-town setting. Cork continued to work in law enforcement and was elected sheriff while Jo completed law school and started her own private practice. Together they have three children – Jennie, Annie, and Stephen.
However, things have not gone well for Cork in recent years. He’s no longer Sherriff due to a horrible incident. His marriage also broken down due his own self-inflicted personal meltdown, leaving him separated from his wife and children, and focusing on overcoming his personal guilt and moving forward with his life.
When “Boundary Waters’ begins, Cork has regrouped reconciled with his wife and family, and living back at home with them. However, the restored peace is broken when an explosion rocks the nearby lumber mill, killing the night watchman. The mill is owned by the Lindstrom family, primarily the son Karl, a wealthy industrialist who is in a legal battle with the Anishinaabe tribe over the use of local forest white pines. When Karl tries to blame the tribe for the explosion, Cork agrees help the sheriff investigate, which puts him right in the middle of the chaos, especially since his wife is legally representing the tribe.
At the same time, Peter Sonjay, a reclusive shipwreck survivor and his friend, Bridger, have their own reasons for hating Karl, and are secretly plotting their revenge. Peter is still suffering the loss of his younger brother from that shipwreck and the knowledge that that it was part of the Lindstrom family business empire.
In addition, the current sheriff and close friend of Cork, has decided not to seek reelection to spend more time with his wife who is ill. He and some of the other town’s leaders want Cork to run and serve as sheriff for a second time. Others are working politically against him doing just that, and his wife Jo, doesn’t want him too either. She is personally scared that if he does, her previous affair when she and Cork were separated would completely destroy the legal practice that she has spent years building up in Aurora and the surrounding area.
Things get worse when a dead body found is discovered in the remains of the explosion, making things even tougher on Cork’s investigation and the local’s start taking sides, increasing the tension and distracting Cork from focusing on finding a killer. If that wasn’t enough for Cork to deal with, Peter and Bridger put their plan into action, putting members of the Linderman and O’Conner families into life threatening danger.
This time Cork will not only be pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he may not be able to protect his family without sacrificing his own life…
As with the two previous books in this series, Cork’s drive, heart, and love for his family drive his actions and the story being told. For me, this is Kreuger’s secret sauce that builds on the setting, mystery to be solved, and the relationships that are at the core of the series. Krueger combines all of those elements into a wonderful feast that immerses the reader in a multi-layered mystery involved multiple characters, history, conflict (lots of it), and both the best and worst qualities that define our inner being. Kreuger structured the story well, delivering surprises, shocking twists, and emotional conflicts along the way. He never took his foot off the gas, ratcheting the tension and struggles throughout, and never reaching for the break. The plotting was tight and connected everyone involved to moving the story forward.
Kreuger also makes a very smart choice as a writer. He doesn’t overdo the focus on Cork. Instead, he tells the story through Jo’s point-of-view as well as Cork’s. She is treated throughout as an equal and respected partner, which broadens the plotting for the reader and elevates the tension. She plays a key role in this one, one that balances what Cork is going through and ratchets the tension and risk even higher. They work together as well as independently, displaying both strengths and weaknesses that fuel the momentum and pacing. For me, I am gaining a better understanding of Jo’s vulnerabilities and that makes her more empathetic and endearing. They certainly balance each other and their relationship development has my full attention.
Three books into this series and I can already see what a talented storyteller Kreuger is, and why he has such a strong and committed following. He’s hitting all of the essential elements - strong and intricate plotting, authentic and interesting characters, and wonderful use of setting and scenery. He combines and blends the three together into a first page turner thriller like no other. I must say that in all of the books, Kreuger created really strong bad guys. Some, like Hanover Helmuth, were so easily unlikeable and annoying just like you want, providing serious challenges for Cork and Jo. They had sincere motivations for their actions and motivations, providing strength to the conflicts in the story. I was especially drawn to Peter’s sad history and personal struggles. I felt serious sympathy for the challenges that life had given him.
Let me mention a few side notes before wrapping this up. Henry Meloux made his presence known in a couple of excellent scenes, not only providing wisdom, but also serving as Cork’s mentor. In addition, Jo’s sister, Rose, provides a foundation of support to the family that makes you wish that she could be developed more. Maybe even get a chance to for a relationship. The sheriff, Wally Schanno, has become a close confidante and friend to Cork. Wally is good intentioned, unselfish, and will do whatever’s right to get things done and finish an investigation. He deserves some peace and quality time with his ill wife, Arletta. Credit to Kreuger for creating such a strong cast of supporting characters that have become essential in their own regard.
Overall, it should be no surprise with how much I was impressed with Kreuger’s third Cork O’Connor adventure. This was a strong 4-plus star rating out of 5 stars and I simply, cannot wait to read more books in this series. Having come off of the Longmire and Joe Picket novels, I am extremely pleased that many other readers of those series recommended William Kent Kreuger to me. They were spot on. Thank you for introducing my next mystery series journey for me to take. I can tell that I have many hours of reading joy coming my way that will bring new friends and experiences to cherish.
If you are reading this review, I encourage you to try reading the Cork O’Conner series too. It will be so worth it… They are simply awesome!
“Purgatory Ridge” is the third Cork O’Conner novel and continues the same high level of quality delivered in the first two. Cork lives in the small northern town of Aurora, Minnesota where he grew up. Cork is part Irish and part Anishinaabe Indian. He was previously a cop working the rough South Side of Chicago, but moved back home to Aurora with his wife, Jo, to raise a family in a small-town setting. Cork continued to work in law enforcement and was elected sheriff while Jo completed law school and started her own private practice. Together they have three children – Jennie, Annie, and Stephen.
However, things have not gone well for Cork in recent years. He’s no longer Sherriff due to a horrible incident. His marriage also broken down due his own self-inflicted personal meltdown, leaving him separated from his wife and children, and focusing on overcoming his personal guilt and moving forward with his life.
When “Boundary Waters’ begins, Cork has regrouped reconciled with his wife and family, and living back at home with them. However, the restored peace is broken when an explosion rocks the nearby lumber mill, killing the night watchman. The mill is owned by the Lindstrom family, primarily the son Karl, a wealthy industrialist who is in a legal battle with the Anishinaabe tribe over the use of local forest white pines. When Karl tries to blame the tribe for the explosion, Cork agrees help the sheriff investigate, which puts him right in the middle of the chaos, especially since his wife is legally representing the tribe.
At the same time, Peter Sonjay, a reclusive shipwreck survivor and his friend, Bridger, have their own reasons for hating Karl, and are secretly plotting their revenge. Peter is still suffering the loss of his younger brother from that shipwreck and the knowledge that that it was part of the Lindstrom family business empire.
In addition, the current sheriff and close friend of Cork, has decided not to seek reelection to spend more time with his wife who is ill. He and some of the other town’s leaders want Cork to run and serve as sheriff for a second time. Others are working politically against him doing just that, and his wife Jo, doesn’t want him too either. She is personally scared that if he does, her previous affair when she and Cork were separated would completely destroy the legal practice that she has spent years building up in Aurora and the surrounding area.
Things get worse when a dead body found is discovered in the remains of the explosion, making things even tougher on Cork’s investigation and the local’s start taking sides, increasing the tension and distracting Cork from focusing on finding a killer. If that wasn’t enough for Cork to deal with, Peter and Bridger put their plan into action, putting members of the Linderman and O’Conner families into life threatening danger.
This time Cork will not only be pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he may not be able to protect his family without sacrificing his own life…
As with the two previous books in this series, Cork’s drive, heart, and love for his family drive his actions and the story being told. For me, this is Kreuger’s secret sauce that builds on the setting, mystery to be solved, and the relationships that are at the core of the series. Krueger combines all of those elements into a wonderful feast that immerses the reader in a multi-layered mystery involved multiple characters, history, conflict (lots of it), and both the best and worst qualities that define our inner being. Kreuger structured the story well, delivering surprises, shocking twists, and emotional conflicts along the way. He never took his foot off the gas, ratcheting the tension and struggles throughout, and never reaching for the break. The plotting was tight and connected everyone involved to moving the story forward.
Kreuger also makes a very smart choice as a writer. He doesn’t overdo the focus on Cork. Instead, he tells the story through Jo’s point-of-view as well as Cork’s. She is treated throughout as an equal and respected partner, which broadens the plotting for the reader and elevates the tension. She plays a key role in this one, one that balances what Cork is going through and ratchets the tension and risk even higher. They work together as well as independently, displaying both strengths and weaknesses that fuel the momentum and pacing. For me, I am gaining a better understanding of Jo’s vulnerabilities and that makes her more empathetic and endearing. They certainly balance each other and their relationship development has my full attention.
Three books into this series and I can already see what a talented storyteller Kreuger is, and why he has such a strong and committed following. He’s hitting all of the essential elements - strong and intricate plotting, authentic and interesting characters, and wonderful use of setting and scenery. He combines and blends the three together into a first page turner thriller like no other. I must say that in all of the books, Kreuger created really strong bad guys. Some, like Hanover Helmuth, were so easily unlikeable and annoying just like you want, providing serious challenges for Cork and Jo. They had sincere motivations for their actions and motivations, providing strength to the conflicts in the story. I was especially drawn to Peter’s sad history and personal struggles. I felt serious sympathy for the challenges that life had given him.
Let me mention a few side notes before wrapping this up. Henry Meloux made his presence known in a couple of excellent scenes, not only providing wisdom, but also serving as Cork’s mentor. In addition, Jo’s sister, Rose, provides a foundation of support to the family that makes you wish that she could be developed more. Maybe even get a chance to for a relationship. The sheriff, Wally Schanno, has become a close confidante and friend to Cork. Wally is good intentioned, unselfish, and will do whatever’s right to get things done and finish an investigation. He deserves some peace and quality time with his ill wife, Arletta. Credit to Kreuger for creating such a strong cast of supporting characters that have become essential in their own regard.
Overall, it should be no surprise with how much I was impressed with Kreuger’s third Cork O’Connor adventure. This was a strong 4-plus star rating out of 5 stars and I simply, cannot wait to read more books in this series. Having come off of the Longmire and Joe Picket novels, I am extremely pleased that many other readers of those series recommended William Kent Kreuger to me. They were spot on. Thank you for introducing my next mystery series journey for me to take. I can tell that I have many hours of reading joy coming my way that will bring new friends and experiences to cherish.
If you are reading this review, I encourage you to try reading the Cork O’Conner series too. It will be so worth it… They are simply awesome!
May 18, 2020
A riveting listen with my husband. We listened most of this rainy Sunday. It has rained so much our back yard is flooded. Meanwhile, we suspended our disbelief at times and yelled at the slowness of the FBI as they worked to unravel the identity of the kidnappers!
The author has a gift of placing right there in the beautiful Minnesota wilderness, experiencing the action along with characters we care about. We love the grace and tenderness, kindness and self-sacrifice that were all demonstrated. Character is king in this novel.
Here are my favorite quotes:
"Ever feel like you're holding a bag of scorpions and sooner or later you're going to have to put your hand inside?" I think we can all relate to this!
"Meloux had said he had a choice. He could keep company with despair or he could choose a different companion." This one seems very apt for the times we are living in.
The author has a gift of placing right there in the beautiful Minnesota wilderness, experiencing the action along with characters we care about. We love the grace and tenderness, kindness and self-sacrifice that were all demonstrated. Character is king in this novel.
Here are my favorite quotes:
"Ever feel like you're holding a bag of scorpions and sooner or later you're going to have to put your hand inside?" I think we can all relate to this!
"Meloux had said he had a choice. He could keep company with despair or he could choose a different companion." This one seems very apt for the times we are living in.
March 18, 2021
So often my enjoyment of a book has to do with timing. And so being in the mood for a fast-paced suspenseful story I picked up the next Cork O'Conner book which I was sure would fill the bill and did it ever-finished in 24 hours! While not one of my absolute favorite series, I really like the setting (especially Lake Superior), the Anishinaabe Native American Indian culture, and Cork. So I tend to skim over the little bit of rough language, and enjoy the wonderful turn of phrases that Mr. William Kent Krueger writes so well; for that is what keeps drawing me back in. This was my favorite-so far...
December 7, 2022
I enjoyed this Cork story though maybe not as much as the previous two. This one seemed quite slow for quite a while. However once the pace picked up it was sustained and I enjoyed the book more. I do like the basic outline of these books combining small town crime with first nation aspects and decent characters. I'm definitely a fan of Henry Meloux and the part he plays in these stories although his was not such a big contribution in this one. I have the next couple of books and will continue reading these when I get the chance.
February 27, 2019
This is a tree-huggers vs. loggers tale, but it is more than that. There is an intricate kidnapping plot, an evil husband vs. nice wife segment and it is all topped off by a protect the one you love at all costs sensibility. Well above average. Recommended.
February 3, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My fourth William Kent Krueger book this year and another incredible story!
My fourth William Kent Krueger book this year and another incredible story!
February 26, 2021
Another very good book in this outstanding series. The setting, the Indian lore, the clash of cultures all make this a great read. And of course good men vs evil men is always a central theme. The two separate story lines woven together by a skilled author led to a dramatic conclusion that I won’t forget for a long time.
July 8, 2021
In this third book of the Cork O’Connor series, Cork is working out his life and trying to fix his marriage. The sheriff who replaced him asks for his help solving the death of a night watchman at the local lumber mill during an explosion. If I you learned anything about Cork O’Connor so far, you know things are about to go south.
This case involves a wealthy industrialist, members of the Anishinaabe tribe and his wife, Jo, who represents the tribe. In other words, a recipe for disaster. As usual though, Cork, dives right in to solve the case at his own risk and at the detriment of his family.
I am loving this series and the character development that deepens with each book. I highly recommend this series for anyone who loves mystery, nature, and surprise. I gave it four stars!
This case involves a wealthy industrialist, members of the Anishinaabe tribe and his wife, Jo, who represents the tribe. In other words, a recipe for disaster. As usual though, Cork, dives right in to solve the case at his own risk and at the detriment of his family.
I am loving this series and the character development that deepens with each book. I highly recommend this series for anyone who loves mystery, nature, and surprise. I gave it four stars!
July 7, 2022
The Argus Leader newspaper of Sioux Falls, SD, said about this novel: [Kreuger] has a knack for taking us into the woods and losing us in a good story.
Who can disagree with that?
Aurora, Minnesota. Forty-seven year old Corcoran Liam O'Connor, the former sheriff of the town was minding his own business in Sam's Place, and back with his wife, Jo, and his three children, Annie, Jenny and six year old Stevie, in their house in Gooseberry Lane. Life was getting better. The relationship was slowly healing.
It was July,and it was dry. Forest fires were burning all over the North Country since mid-June. Lake levels were the lowest in a hundred years. Rivers shrank to ragged threads. Creeks ceased to run. Wild grass were bristle, the undergrowth wilted.
An explosion ripped through the community. The town was still sleeping that early morning when the houses shook and earth moved without them. It was difficult for Cork not to rush off and satisfy his 'morbid curiosity', a leftover, or result, of not being the sheriff anymore. He therefore did not rush off. He just calmly drove off to have a look around...
The Lindstrom Lumber and Plywood Mill was hit. A big propane tank blew. Arson was a possibility.
When the town finally woke up and talk began, a much bigger picture began to form. Sheriff Wally Shanno had to deal with the 'arrow of justice', the Eco-Warrior who claimed to be part of a movement called the Army of the Earth. There was the Anishinaabe tribe who was fighting a battle to keep the great white pines, 200 acres of gigantic old trees, which they called Ninishoomisag, Our Grandfathers, and was sacred to them, to be logged. The loggers were fighting to preserve their livelihoods. There were the bitter newspaperman Helm Hanover (or better known as Hell Hanover), with his allegedly former Minnesota Civilian Brigade who had their own ax to grind, especially with Cork. In fact, Hell was the reason why Cork lost his job. But then there were personal vendettas and unfinished business between members of the community too.
Tamarack County seemed poised for war over the destruction of one of the last good stands of old-growth white pine left in the North Woods.
Old history and new history unexpectedly collided that day.
HISTORY, IN CORK’S OPINION, was a useless discipline, an assemblage of accounts and memories, often flawed, that in the end did the world no service. Math and science could be applied in concrete ways. Literature, if it didn’t enlighten, at least entertained. But history? History was simply a study in futility. Because people never learned. Century after century, they committed the same atrocities against one another or against the earth, and the only thing that changed was the magnitude of the slaughter.
COMMENTS. Gripping, mouth-dropping, dark, sad, and terrifying. This was my experience when I was once again pulled into a most atmospheric, incredibly suspenseful, elegantly written tale of loyalty, honor, corruption, bribery, blackmail, and sadly, hatred. But it was also a tale of hope in heartwarming moments of goodness which, like a string of pearls, wound through the events like an underlying current of dignified human resilience.
William Kreuger remains an incredible storyteller.
Who can disagree with that?
Aurora, Minnesota. Forty-seven year old Corcoran Liam O'Connor, the former sheriff of the town was minding his own business in Sam's Place, and back with his wife, Jo, and his three children, Annie, Jenny and six year old Stevie, in their house in Gooseberry Lane. Life was getting better. The relationship was slowly healing.
It was July,and it was dry. Forest fires were burning all over the North Country since mid-June. Lake levels were the lowest in a hundred years. Rivers shrank to ragged threads. Creeks ceased to run. Wild grass were bristle, the undergrowth wilted.
An explosion ripped through the community. The town was still sleeping that early morning when the houses shook and earth moved without them. It was difficult for Cork not to rush off and satisfy his 'morbid curiosity', a leftover, or result, of not being the sheriff anymore. He therefore did not rush off. He just calmly drove off to have a look around...
The Lindstrom Lumber and Plywood Mill was hit. A big propane tank blew. Arson was a possibility.
When the town finally woke up and talk began, a much bigger picture began to form. Sheriff Wally Shanno had to deal with the 'arrow of justice', the Eco-Warrior who claimed to be part of a movement called the Army of the Earth. There was the Anishinaabe tribe who was fighting a battle to keep the great white pines, 200 acres of gigantic old trees, which they called Ninishoomisag, Our Grandfathers, and was sacred to them, to be logged. The loggers were fighting to preserve their livelihoods. There were the bitter newspaperman Helm Hanover (or better known as Hell Hanover), with his allegedly former Minnesota Civilian Brigade who had their own ax to grind, especially with Cork. In fact, Hell was the reason why Cork lost his job. But then there were personal vendettas and unfinished business between members of the community too.
Tamarack County seemed poised for war over the destruction of one of the last good stands of old-growth white pine left in the North Woods.
Old history and new history unexpectedly collided that day.
HISTORY, IN CORK’S OPINION, was a useless discipline, an assemblage of accounts and memories, often flawed, that in the end did the world no service. Math and science could be applied in concrete ways. Literature, if it didn’t enlighten, at least entertained. But history? History was simply a study in futility. Because people never learned. Century after century, they committed the same atrocities against one another or against the earth, and the only thing that changed was the magnitude of the slaughter.
COMMENTS. Gripping, mouth-dropping, dark, sad, and terrifying. This was my experience when I was once again pulled into a most atmospheric, incredibly suspenseful, elegantly written tale of loyalty, honor, corruption, bribery, blackmail, and sadly, hatred. But it was also a tale of hope in heartwarming moments of goodness which, like a string of pearls, wound through the events like an underlying current of dignified human resilience.
William Kreuger remains an incredible storyteller.
October 13, 2017
I've not done this before, but after I had rejected it, a friend here in GR convinced me to continue this book in "skimming mode" -
So, I continue to continue. Honestly, this book reads as if a completely different person wrote it, compared to the first two books. Half of each of those was brilliant.
38% .... the abuse of both families by Krueger is unforgivable. The dredging of the past against Jo, and the threatening of children for entertainment is obscene.
48% ... Long-winded and so dull. Krueger uses 5 sentences where one would do...
51% ... ugh. More abuse of children.
65% ... dull, dull, repetitive talk. A laundry list instead of prose. There's no wonder, no awe of the forest, no deep thoughts of life. It's like a totally different author wrote this book.
And, given a second chance, the rest of the book is like the beginning: Long winded and dull, a hard slog with unsympathetic characters, with a truly nasty plot that bogs down, ugh.
Cork almost absent from the first 1/3 of the book... Dry-suit scuba diving with dull non-conversations... A newspaper reporter from hell... Cardboard tree-huggers and lumberjacks spouting dated testosterone clichés at each other... No redeeming Ojibwe wisdom to speak of... Dry prose without meaning or insight... Crime without mystery or inspiration.
What a train wreck! By far the worst of Krueger that I’ve read.
Authors making money portraying the kidnap and abuse of children for "entertainment" is sick and perverse. F'ck you Krueger.
I feel dirty and manipulated. Save yourself: Toss this piece of crap now.
So, I continue to continue. Honestly, this book reads as if a completely different person wrote it, compared to the first two books. Half of each of those was brilliant.
38% .... the abuse of both families by Krueger is unforgivable. The dredging of the past against Jo, and the threatening of children for entertainment is obscene.
48% ... Long-winded and so dull. Krueger uses 5 sentences where one would do...
51% ... ugh. More abuse of children.
65% ... dull, dull, repetitive talk. A laundry list instead of prose. There's no wonder, no awe of the forest, no deep thoughts of life. It's like a totally different author wrote this book.
And, given a second chance, the rest of the book is like the beginning: Long winded and dull, a hard slog with unsympathetic characters, with a truly nasty plot that bogs down, ugh.
Cork almost absent from the first 1/3 of the book... Dry-suit scuba diving with dull non-conversations... A newspaper reporter from hell... Cardboard tree-huggers and lumberjacks spouting dated testosterone clichés at each other... No redeeming Ojibwe wisdom to speak of... Dry prose without meaning or insight... Crime without mystery or inspiration.
What a train wreck! By far the worst of Krueger that I’ve read.
Authors making money portraying the kidnap and abuse of children for "entertainment" is sick and perverse. F'ck you Krueger.
I feel dirty and manipulated. Save yourself: Toss this piece of crap now.
December 6, 2020
This was the best one yet in the series, I’m giving it 4.5/5 rounded up.
I’ve noticed something with the books in this series I’ve read so far. Every book in this series is named after a place: Boundary Waters, Iron Lake, Northwest Angle, etc., and the reason for that has become clear. The land and setting of these books are just as much a character as anyone in the story-Minnesota, the big lake Superior (Kitchigami), the Boundary Waters, and the vast North Woods region of the US. The people who have lived there for generations play a role in every story as well. It’s all connected.
Krueger keeps me guessing every time, with twists and turns up until the end. All the clues are there, and when it all came together I looked back and kicked myself for not putting it together sooner, but I guess that’s just a testament to how masterfully the story is weaved.
This book had a standout character, and an especially powerful scene at the end involving that character that will without a doubt stick with me for a long time. For me, that is always a sign of good writing.
I’ve noticed something with the books in this series I’ve read so far. Every book in this series is named after a place: Boundary Waters, Iron Lake, Northwest Angle, etc., and the reason for that has become clear. The land and setting of these books are just as much a character as anyone in the story-Minnesota, the big lake Superior (Kitchigami), the Boundary Waters, and the vast North Woods region of the US. The people who have lived there for generations play a role in every story as well. It’s all connected.
Krueger keeps me guessing every time, with twists and turns up until the end. All the clues are there, and when it all came together I looked back and kicked myself for not putting it together sooner, but I guess that’s just a testament to how masterfully the story is weaved.
This book had a standout character, and an especially powerful scene at the end involving that character that will without a doubt stick with me for a long time. For me, that is always a sign of good writing.
June 23, 2019
I've really enjoyed all of William Kent Kueger's books, both standalone and the Cork O'Connor series. I think this is the best so far of this series, with a little something for everyone. There are great characters, a strong sense of place, a lot of good Native American lore, mystery, excitement, and romance. There were actually multiple seemingly unrelated mysteries that came together in the end.
As with many towns that have a strong Native American presence, not to mention logging interests, there is always friction in the town, and in this story, the town becomes a powder keg about to explode - well, actually, there is an explosion at one point and it seems like there may be more on the way as emotions run high. The interests of the town collide with the interests of the Native American residents, along with the out-of-town treehuggers and the mill owners. Lots of excitement throughout.
As with many towns that have a strong Native American presence, not to mention logging interests, there is always friction in the town, and in this story, the town becomes a powder keg about to explode - well, actually, there is an explosion at one point and it seems like there may be more on the way as emotions run high. The interests of the town collide with the interests of the Native American residents, along with the out-of-town treehuggers and the mill owners. Lots of excitement throughout.
February 1, 2019
I continue to love this series! In this third book Cork finds himself in the midst of town politics when someone bombs the lumber mill. The owner, Karl Lindstrom, had been in conflict with the Ojibwe over a stand of trees known as Our Grandfathers, so suspicion immediately is on the tribe. Meanwhile, Cork and his wife Jo are slowly feeling their way back into marriage and trying to make it work after their infidelities. What starts out as a seemingly straightforward case of environmentalists versus the logging company soon becomes complicated - VERY complicated!
Part of the book was based on an actual event: the sinking of an ore freighter, the Daniel J. Morrel. Of course, now I want to read that book, too! Shipwrecked: Reflections of the Sole Survivor
I highly recommend the Cork O'Connor series ... just in case you couldn't already tell. 😄
Part of the book was based on an actual event: the sinking of an ore freighter, the Daniel J. Morrel. Of course, now I want to read that book, too! Shipwrecked: Reflections of the Sole Survivor
I highly recommend the Cork O'Connor series ... just in case you couldn't already tell. 😄
September 14, 2013
Literature, if it didn't enlighten, at least entertained. But history? History was simply a study in futility. Because people never learned.
Sole Survivor - Nov, 1986 - The Teasdale, an old ore freighter on its last mission, sank in the Great Lakes during one of the worst gales in history. John LePere was the only survivor. Among the perished was John's beloved younger brother, Billy. John would never recover from Billy's death, at whose hands he would blame The Fitzgerald Shipping Company.
Over a decade later, near Aurora, Minnesota - Our Grandfathers, Ninishoomisag - about 200 acres of ancient white pine trees stand majestically 100 feet tall with trunks over 4 feet in diameter - sacred to the Anishinaabeg tribe. Their existence are threatened by the Lindstrom Lumber Mill, owned by Karl Lindstrom who won the rights to log the site. When a bombing at the mill leaves an Ojibwe elder dead, Cork O'Connor becomes involved in what appears to be a murderous conflict between Native American and lucrative industrial America.
The confinement of the Ojibwe Anishinaabeg to a very few reservations was accomplished through threat and deceit and with complicity of educated people who considered themselves enlightened. The devastation of the land-the clearing of the magnificent white pine forests , the deep gouging of the mine pits on the Iron Range, the dumping of toxins into the crystal water of Lake Superior- was justified as the fulfillment of God's plan, the " manifest destiny" of America.
An Anishinaabe boy viewing a logged site
Cork, part Anishinaabe himself and an ex-sheriff of the county, easily plays the middle man, the level headed go- between, the negotiator. But, he's torn between getting involved in the investigation, and his commitment to rebuilding his family life and relationship with his wife. His involvement becomes sealed, though, when Lindstrom's wife Grace Fitzgerald and her son are kidnapped, along with Cork's wife and son. For Cork, the crime just got personal.
I was impressed with Krueger's introduction of the Ojibwe way of life and spirituality; their beliefs weren't thrust in the reader's face like a gale force wind, never preachy or dogmatic. Rather Krueger managed balance between the races, acquainting the reader of the Ojibwe's nature with thoughtful illumination. It's obvious he respects the Native people tremendously.
Krueger also paid attention to the connection and interaction between his characters and the environment. His description of the setting was breathtaking; it strengthened the image in the reader's mind; it allowed the reader to easily fall in love with the land.
During summer in the North Country, the sun seemed to linger forever. The light near dusk was like one final exhalation that breathed gold onto pines and tamaracks, the birch and aspen, and everything seemed to hold very still as the sun let out its long last breath. Cork loved summer evenings in Tamarack County, loved those moments when the earth seemed to pause in its turning.
One final exhalation that breathed gold onto pines and tamaracks
Krueger's use of one of the many disasters in Great Lakes' history, the sinking of the SS Daniel J. Morrell in 1966 with the miraculous survival of one man, Dennis Hale, gave the plot believability, and John's character validity. You can read about this part of Krueger's inspiration for Purgatory Ridge here - http://williamkentkrueger.com/blog/?p=41
SS Daniel J. Morrell , the inspiration for The Teasdale in Purgatory Ridge.
Also check out a little article about Dennis Hale, the Sole Survivor of SS Daniel J. Morrell here - http://www.news-herald.com/general-ne...
This novel was the 3rd in the Cork O'Connor Series written by William Kent Krueger, and the first in the series that I've read(although I did read Ordinary Grace-loved it but not much Cork in it). I had a lot of fun with this-I think I would read more of Cork soon.
Sole Survivor - Nov, 1986 - The Teasdale, an old ore freighter on its last mission, sank in the Great Lakes during one of the worst gales in history. John LePere was the only survivor. Among the perished was John's beloved younger brother, Billy. John would never recover from Billy's death, at whose hands he would blame The Fitzgerald Shipping Company.
Over a decade later, near Aurora, Minnesota - Our Grandfathers, Ninishoomisag - about 200 acres of ancient white pine trees stand majestically 100 feet tall with trunks over 4 feet in diameter - sacred to the Anishinaabeg tribe. Their existence are threatened by the Lindstrom Lumber Mill, owned by Karl Lindstrom who won the rights to log the site. When a bombing at the mill leaves an Ojibwe elder dead, Cork O'Connor becomes involved in what appears to be a murderous conflict between Native American and lucrative industrial America.
The confinement of the Ojibwe Anishinaabeg to a very few reservations was accomplished through threat and deceit and with complicity of educated people who considered themselves enlightened. The devastation of the land-the clearing of the magnificent white pine forests , the deep gouging of the mine pits on the Iron Range, the dumping of toxins into the crystal water of Lake Superior- was justified as the fulfillment of God's plan, the " manifest destiny" of America.
An Anishinaabe boy viewing a logged site
Cork, part Anishinaabe himself and an ex-sheriff of the county, easily plays the middle man, the level headed go- between, the negotiator. But, he's torn between getting involved in the investigation, and his commitment to rebuilding his family life and relationship with his wife. His involvement becomes sealed, though, when Lindstrom's wife Grace Fitzgerald and her son are kidnapped, along with Cork's wife and son. For Cork, the crime just got personal.
I was impressed with Krueger's introduction of the Ojibwe way of life and spirituality; their beliefs weren't thrust in the reader's face like a gale force wind, never preachy or dogmatic. Rather Krueger managed balance between the races, acquainting the reader of the Ojibwe's nature with thoughtful illumination. It's obvious he respects the Native people tremendously.
Krueger also paid attention to the connection and interaction between his characters and the environment. His description of the setting was breathtaking; it strengthened the image in the reader's mind; it allowed the reader to easily fall in love with the land.
During summer in the North Country, the sun seemed to linger forever. The light near dusk was like one final exhalation that breathed gold onto pines and tamaracks, the birch and aspen, and everything seemed to hold very still as the sun let out its long last breath. Cork loved summer evenings in Tamarack County, loved those moments when the earth seemed to pause in its turning.
One final exhalation that breathed gold onto pines and tamaracks
Krueger's use of one of the many disasters in Great Lakes' history, the sinking of the SS Daniel J. Morrell in 1966 with the miraculous survival of one man, Dennis Hale, gave the plot believability, and John's character validity. You can read about this part of Krueger's inspiration for Purgatory Ridge here - http://williamkentkrueger.com/blog/?p=41
SS Daniel J. Morrell , the inspiration for The Teasdale in Purgatory Ridge.
Also check out a little article about Dennis Hale, the Sole Survivor of SS Daniel J. Morrell here - http://www.news-herald.com/general-ne...
This novel was the 3rd in the Cork O'Connor Series written by William Kent Krueger, and the first in the series that I've read(although I did read Ordinary Grace-loved it but not much Cork in it). I had a lot of fun with this-I think I would read more of Cork soon.
December 21, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It started out kind of slow, and then the pace picked up, like revealing the lives of the main characters and then throwing them off Purgatory Ridge.
I did learn a couple new words. I had to look up "popple" and "talus". I like that popple is a Midwestern term for what I've always known as poplar.
I think maybe the underlying theme in this book is redemption. For me and one of the characters, there's also forgiveness, but I will still remember. Let's see what happens in the next book, shall we?
I did learn a couple new words. I had to look up "popple" and "talus". I like that popple is a Midwestern term for what I've always known as poplar.
I think maybe the underlying theme in this book is redemption. For me and one of the characters, there's also forgiveness, but I will still remember. Let's see what happens in the next book, shall we?
October 9, 2019
John Le Pere's brother is at the bottom of Lake Superior in a ship owned by Karl Lindstrom which broke apart in a storm. John was able to get off that boat.
Bridge, John Pere's side kick also had a grudge against Lindstrom.
An innocent person, the night watchman is killed in an explosion at the saw mill owned by Lindstrom.
Le Pere and Bridge plot a plan to kidnap Lindstrom's wife ad son and also the wife and son of CorkO'Connor, since he is investigating the explotion.
The plan goes wrong.
Bridge, John Pere's side kick also had a grudge against Lindstrom.
An innocent person, the night watchman is killed in an explosion at the saw mill owned by Lindstrom.
Le Pere and Bridge plot a plan to kidnap Lindstrom's wife ad son and also the wife and son of CorkO'Connor, since he is investigating the explotion.
The plan goes wrong.
February 29, 2020
Purgatory Ridge is the third novel in the Cork O' Connor series.
The extraordinary descriptive writing. The connection the reader makes with the O'Connor family. The fresh twist and turn roller coaster mystery. The addition of the Native American's culture and beliefs. I find myself enjoying this series more and more. And each novel has ended with the thought of "what happens next"!
The extraordinary descriptive writing. The connection the reader makes with the O'Connor family. The fresh twist and turn roller coaster mystery. The addition of the Native American's culture and beliefs. I find myself enjoying this series more and more. And each novel has ended with the thought of "what happens next"!
February 7, 2026
Purgatory Ridge took a while to fully settle for me. By the second half, though, I was firmly in its current.
The story carries a lot, multiple character threads, environmental conflict, cultural tension, and personal reckoning.
While not every strand clicks cleanly, the novel is highly enjoyable, and its inspiration in true events adds weight and interest for me.
I don’t read Cork O’Connor for the mechanics of mystery. Here, the investigation itself is less compelling than the characters living through it.
They are immersed in grief that hardens into obsession, wealth that insulates responsibility, and damage that ripples outward across families, communities, and generations.
Krueger pivots the plot into a higher-stakes thriller halfway through the book, a move he’s described as intentional. I think it works better than I anticipated as I was first noticing the shift, especially as the emotional and historical grounding deepens.
The Great Lakes lore running beneath this story gives it extra gravity. These waters are never just scenery; they are forced with memory, danger, and pull.
That sense of place does a lot of the connective work when the plot grows crowded.
I always appreciate how much Krueger trusts his audience. Cork is a worthy protagonist, and while the story is ambitious and occasionally messy, it remains emotionally resonant and satisfying.
The story carries a lot, multiple character threads, environmental conflict, cultural tension, and personal reckoning.
While not every strand clicks cleanly, the novel is highly enjoyable, and its inspiration in true events adds weight and interest for me.
I don’t read Cork O’Connor for the mechanics of mystery. Here, the investigation itself is less compelling than the characters living through it.
They are immersed in grief that hardens into obsession, wealth that insulates responsibility, and damage that ripples outward across families, communities, and generations.
Krueger pivots the plot into a higher-stakes thriller halfway through the book, a move he’s described as intentional. I think it works better than I anticipated as I was first noticing the shift, especially as the emotional and historical grounding deepens.
The Great Lakes lore running beneath this story gives it extra gravity. These waters are never just scenery; they are forced with memory, danger, and pull.
That sense of place does a lot of the connective work when the plot grows crowded.
I always appreciate how much Krueger trusts his audience. Cork is a worthy protagonist, and while the story is ambitious and occasionally messy, it remains emotionally resonant and satisfying.
July 5, 2023
I still dislike Jo (even though her better qualities were on display in this plot), and I exactly predicted the outcome. I read these for the Anishinaabe characters and culture, and for the incredible, natural Minnesota settings anyway.
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